Trying To Keep My Head Above Water...

This has by far been the busiest craziest time of my life.  So much has happened....Let's start with last month.

 The first two pictures are of Boston, he came in my room asking what happened to his Matty B shirt. I looked at him confused and realized he was dead serious.  He said "Mom, the face washed off." I busted up laughing and told him to look inside his shirt.  The "embarrassed" face is after he realized his shirt was just inside out.  The Matty B part didn't wash off.  (I usually always turn their shirts the right side out, but I was in a hurry that day and didn't, so it left him a little confused.)

 I got an email from Ali, our designer and she asked if we were going to the Shark Tank auditions in Vegas.  She told me it was in a few days so I took the gamble and headed to Vegas.
When I got there people were already in line.  I was so bummed because I didn't want to sleep outside just to wait in line.  Luckily the Shark Tank head producer came out to talk to us and he promised to give us a chance for auditions.  After he got done talking I asked if I could get my picture taken with him.  He said "Sure!" Then asked who would be taking the picture.  I waved Gentry over and said "my husband!" He replied with "Oh man, you're married?...just kidding I'm married too."  There were some ladies that asked for a picture after me and he said no, so I felt pretty cool I got a picture.

 The next morning I asked Gentry to look outside and see if the line was getting long yet.  He came back a few minutes later and said only about 20 people were in line.   I finished getting ready and told him we should go get in line.  As I looked out I noticed the line was wrapping around the side of the building.  I asked Gentry if he looked on the side and his eyes got really big and embarrassed and said "I didn't even think about that!"  So yes, there was a line...a long line...and we had to wait in it.  I could tell Gentry was worried I was going to be mad at him.  But I knew I would get an interview so I forgave him. :)

 I got number 150.  I was asking the head producer if I could set my bed in the audition room because I didn't want to wait in line with a big mattress.  He said I would get called back by my number and I didn't have to wait in line the whole time.   That was a huge relief.

 We had to wait in a "holding" room area while waiting for our 60 second audition.  There were 3 people doing the auditions.  2 women and 1 guy.  I was hoping for the women because I thought they would relate better to my idea.  Then they put me in my line....the guys line.  I was stressed thinking he wouldn't see the need for my bedding.  I decided last minute to show our little commercial.  He laughed at it and then I started talking about my bedding.  He listened and asked questions.  Gentry was watching off to the side.  When I got done I wasn't sure what to think and Gentry was so excited. He told me he could tell the guy was engaged in my product and he also let me talk for like 4 or 5 minutes instead of just 60 seconds.  They told us they would contact us in a week if we made it.  They wouldn't call if they weren't interested.  So we just had to wait.

On my way out of the elevator from the auditions I noticed this.  I couldn't help but think that even the hotel could use my bedding.

 We went to Chili's for dinner afterward.  It was an emotionally draining day.  It was really exciting, nerve wracking and stressful.  The best part was, I had posted on Facebook that I needed likes and views on our video and Facebook page.  So many people supported me.  It was unreal.  You don't realize how great everyone is until a time like this.  I was truly grateful for everyone.

 Gentry and I decided to stay at the hotel for an extra day because we needed some down time. There was a big fish tank at our hotel...with a mermaid that would come every so often and swim by for the onlookers.

 Two days after the audition, I found out another zipper bedding company would be on the show for the following Friday.  I was devastated.  I knew we wouldn't get a shot with them being on the show.  A week had gone by and Shark Tank didn't call.  I assumed we were done.  We decided to start a Kickstarter campaign to earn the money to have the bedding produced.  We also decided to bring in a white bedding design, and Ali said if we helped her she would try to make it.  So on our way over to her house Angie and I went to grab something for lunch and that's when my phone rang.  IT WAS SHARK TANK!!! I kept mouthing to Angie who I was talking to.  I was shaking, I couldn't believe it. It was the guy I had auditioned with and he said they wanted to have a "call back" with us.  We had  a TON of paperwork and did another video and sent it in....and now it's another waiting game!!!

 We all got together to watch Shark Tank (the other bedding company was going to be on.) While we worked on the bedding.  We about died when the Sharks didn't make a deal!  We thought we might actually have a chance!

 Adrienne came in to town for a couple days because her sister in law got married.  So we got to spend a little time together.  She drove everywhere because I was constantly on my phone emailing or working.

 Alyssa also had her cheer competition.  Adrienne got to watch her!  Alyssa's team took 1st place!  We were so excited for her.

 That night I had already made plans to go to a play "Bring It On" so Adrienne stayed home and did craft with the kids.  They decorated T-shirts.  This is Boston's shirt.  Adrienne did the logo part and he  did the rest.  It cracked me up, the detail he used.

 Katie and Ryan were nice enough to get us the tickets to the play.  It was really fun!

 This is Angie me and Ali....WORKING really hard to get the white bedding ready.  They are so great to work with.

 During all of this, I went and FINALLY got my name changed to Mikesell.  After 14 1/2 years of being married I finally officially became a Mikesell.

 This was when we were shooting the new video for Shark Tank.  It started out really fun, but I was exhausted by the time we were done.  We had worked soooo long!

 This is the "pirate" room the boys created under the stairs in the basement.  Their creativity kills me. I love it.  I hope they always stay like this.

 They made maps with treasures and gold, they even brought some dirt in a box....so they could dig for treasures of course.

 These pirates were really clever I thought.  They used paper plates and wrapping paper.  I didn't help them at all.  This was all on their own.

 You have to type in a code before you can go in....

 Brock had Accelerated baseball tryouts.  I was nervous for him.  But he MADE IT!!!  We were so proud of him!  The coaches wife came over to tell him.  She had this cute little handout for him.  When she gave it to him, he said "Thanks!" and so I told him to read it.  He read it and all of the sudden realized what it said and just yelled "YESSSS!"  It was so fun to see his reaction.

 Boston got a joke book from school.  He has LOVED reading all the jokes.

 Then we had our bedding launch on Kickstarter.  We made almost $10,000 the first day....it's slowed down a ton after that so who knows if we will make it.  I am a little nervous...OK I'm REALLY nervous.  We did a iPad mini give away trying to draw more attention to our website.

 Here is a little selection from our website.